Background: Cellular schwannomas (CS) are uncommon tumors derived the schwan cell of peripheral nerve,which are rare in the kidneys, and only individual cases have been reported. Because there are no typical clinical symptoms and imaging features, CS is usually misdiagnosed as synovial sarcoma or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) resulting in overtreatment.
Case presentation: A 68-year-old woman presented to hospital without clinical symptoms, who was incidentally found to have an renal-occupying lesion during physical examination. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid lesion in the middle of the left kidney. The lesion was 5.7 × 3.6cm2.
Conclusions: CS was diagnosed depend on the combination of pathomorphology, immunohistochemistry and molecular. The patient underwwent surgery. Follow-up data were available and no recurrence or metastasis found.